Bass clarinet



z- 1 53 H. w. LONEY 2,649,829

BASS CLARINET Filed July 28, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 %INVENTORI ATTGRNEK Patented Aug. 25, 1953 BASS CLARINET Hugh W. Loney, Elkhart, Ind., assignor to C. G.

Conn Ltd., Elkhart, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Application July 28, 1951, Serial No. 239,157

Claims.

This invention relates to bass clarinets, and more particularly to a bass clarinet capable of being played as a conventional instrument or as a concert instrument able to reach low D (D2) or concert C2.

Bass clarinets as conventionally constructed are capable of reaching low E or E2. Many bass clarinet parts, such as in chamber music, are written to require the playing of low E fiat or in many cases low D or concert C2. It has heretofore been necessary to have completely separate bass clarinets constructed to go lower than the conventional low E for playing chamber music or other types of compositions scored for lower notes. Since bass clarinets are relatively expensive and are also quite large, it is desirable to provide a single instrument capable of handling all types of bass clarinet scores.

It is accordingly one of the objects of the present invention to provide a bass clarinet which can be played as a conventional instrument or which can easily be converted to play notes down to low E flat or low D.

Another object is to provide a bass clarinet which can easily and quickly be converted to play below the usual range by inserting an extra joint or joints between the lower branch of the instrument and the bell.

According to one feature of the invention, conventional bass clarinets can easily be altered to extend their range simply by adding one or two spatulas to the lower branch of the instrument and providing an extra joint or joints to fit between the lower branch and the bell.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is an elevation of the lower end portion of a conventional bass clarinet, altered according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a similar view with the clarinet turned through approximately 180;

Figure 3 is a disassembled view showing the clarinet bell, a portion of the lower branch and extra joint sections for use therewith; and

Figures 4 and 5 are views similar to Figures 1 and 2 respectively showing an extra joint assembly in the instrument for playing down to low D.

The clarinet as shown comprises a lower branch I0 which may correspond exactly to the lower branch of a conventional bass clarinet with certain additions as described hereinafter. The lower branch carries a number of keys inseen in Figure 3.

eluding four finger spatulas II, I2, I3, and I4, which are arranged close together in the usual manner to be selectively engaged by the little finger of the players right hand. As shown, the spatula II controls a key I5 on the lower branch and the spatula l2 controls a similar key I6 on the lower branch, further toward its lower end than the key I5. The spatula I3 controls a key I! toward the extreme lower end of the branch. All of these keys are normally open and are adapted to be closed when the corresponding spatulas are engaged and depressed by the player.

The lower joint is adapted to receive a bell I8 which terminates in an enlarged cup-shaped socket I9 to fit over a reduced end 2I at the lower end of the lower branch. The lower branch has a cylindrical bore therethrough as in the conventional bass clarinet construction and when it is assembled with the bell, the opening through the bell adjacent to the enlarged socket I9 forms a substantially smooth continuation of the bore. The bell carries on the enlarged socket I9 a key 22 which is adapted to close a tone hole opening in the bell. For this purpose, the key terminates in an operating finger 23 which is adapted to overlie a cam end 24 when the bell is assembled on the lower branch. The cam end 24 is connected to the branch when the spatula is depressed thereby to rock the key 22 to its closed position. The instrument as so far described is a purely conventional bass clarinet.

According to the present invention, an additional finger spatula 25 is provided on the lower branch lying closely adjacent to the spatulas II to I4. The spatula 25 is connected to an operating cam 26 which projects slightly beyond the lower end of the lower branch as best Additionally, a thumb operated spatula 27 may be mounted on the rear side of the lower branch substantially opposite to the spatulas II to I4 and 25 to be operated by the thumb of the player. This spatula terminates in a cam end 28 which projects beyond.

the end of the lower branch on the side thereof opposite to the cam ends 24 and 26.

For carrying the range of the instrument to low E flat, an extra joint 3| as shown in Figure 3 may be provided. This joint is formed with a bore of the same size as the bore in the lower branch I0 and has in its upper end a socket to receive the reduced end 2| of the lower branch. At its lower end the extra joint 3| is formed with a reduced end 32 to fit into the socket I9. To hold the extra joint securely in place on the lower branch a pivoted latch member 33 may be provided thereon to engage in a socket 34 in the lower joint in the manner best seen in Figure 5. This not only holds the extra joint securely on the lower branch, but accurately fixes the angular relationship"th'ere'between. The extra joint is formed'with a tone'hole opening adapted to be closed by a key 35 which terminates in an operating finger 36 at the upper end of the extra joint. When the extra joint is assembled on the lower branch, the finger 36 will overlie the cam end 24 so that when the spatula Mis iiepressed,

the key 35 will close the tone hole'openi'ng inthe extra joint.

Underlyin the key 35, the'extra'joint carries a shaft 3'! which terminates at its upper end in an operating finger 38 and at its lower end ina cam end 39. With the extra joint assembled on the lowerbranch, the-operating finger '38 will underlie the "cantend fii of -the spatula '25 so that when this-spatula i depressed, the shaft 3% will be rocked-in a direction to move the '-'ca'm end tiraway'from tlie ex'trajoint. The'cam end 39 un'derli'es'the-ope ng finger 23 to'close the key 22,- upon 'depression ofthe spatula 25.

'To' carry 'theran'geofthe instrument still lower down to low '13 or concert C2, a'second extra joint 4; as 'shcv'vn in l igures'-3, l; and 5, is-pro-- 'vicled. The'jo'int M is fbrmed-atits upper end with a socket' to receivethe reduced end 2d of the lower branch and has a pivoted latch 42 thereonto-hold the extra joint assembled proper a riguiar relationship on-the lower branch. At its lower*end the cxtra"joint i'l terminates in areduced extension iito st- 111a a socket'l'? wh en they res's cl. The key fitter-initiates 5. n ve l n fi end when them-arts are assembled as shown ertii" which overlies the cam in Figure 4, Thus, when-the spatulai iis depressed; the lzey t will be -closed. lhe liey 45i terminates in a similar-operating finger ti which underlies" the ca'hi end when the parts are ass t led t atwfh'en the spatula de- Jr d the will be closed.

snags will move toward the body of theinstrument and will'move'with it"the operating finger id. This 'ro'cksthe 'shait' ldin' a'dire'ctionto move'the cam ends! away from the body of the instrument to close the key 22. When thiskey is 'clo'sed'with the extra 'j'oint' ii in"pla"ce "the ent will play low D or concert 02.

be seen th theinstrumentcan"easily be changed from a nventi'onal bassplarinet-of conventional length an'dwon'st'ruction in "every way to concert instrument, simply -by "addin the s tzatulas Qtand Zlandproviding anextra joints cha's"3i or ll. When it is -desired to fcarry'the rangeonlyto low E fiat-thespatula 2?" may be omitted and the joint 3! onlymaybe "used; I ioweverj when therange is to'goto' con- "cert C2, b oth 'ef -the spatulas2'5 and 21 must be provided 'a'ndfthe extra j'oint ll must be used. These changes or' 'additions', however, are relabe made in two pieces.

tively simple and inexpensive ones and enable the player to utilize a conventional bass clarinet for any type of playing without the necessity of having several difierent instruments. Thus, by carrying one instrument with one or two very short extra joints, the bass clarinet player is equipped to handle any type of music.

Since the upper part ofthe longer joint 4! is substantially the same as the short-joint 3|, it will be apparent that the longer joint 4| could The upper piece only cou1d-be used to carry the pitch to low E flat and the lower piece with the key 45 thereon could bea'ddedto carry the pitch to concert C2.

While the invention has been shown and described in connection with one particular instrument, itwill be apparent that various changes might be made in the construction and it is not intended =t0 limit the scope of the invention to the exact structure shown, nor otherwise than by' the terms of thesappended claims.

What-is claimed'is:

l'i In a bass clarinet including a lower branch having thereon a finger spatula terminating in a cam end adjacent to the lower end of the branch and a bell formed to fit on the lower'end of the branch and having a key'thereon terminating in an operating'finger to: engage'the cam .end when the bellis fitted "on the branch, the. improvement which comprises an extraspatula on the branch terminating in. a second cam. end adjacent to the lower 'end of-thebranchganextra join-t formed to fit between thelower end of the branch and the bell, a key on the extra joint :terminating in an operatingfinger to'engage the first named cam end whereby thexkey will be operated'by the fii'stnam'ed spatula, and a'shaft on the extrajoint-terminatingat one end in-an operating finger to engage the second camend and at its other end in a cam to engage the first named operating finger.

2. In a bass'clarinet including a lowerbranch having thereon a finger spatula terminating in a cam end'adjac'ent'to'the lower endof the branch r and abeIl-Iormed to fit on -the=lower end-o'f-the branch and having a key 1 thereon terminating in an operating finger to engage the earn end -when the bell is fitted on the branch; the improvement which comprises afirst extra spatula on the branchterminating'in a second cam end adjacent the lower end of the branch, a secondextra spatula on thebranchterminating in a third carn enda'djacent the lower end--0f the branch,

an extra joint-formed to fit between the lower -endof the branch and the bell, a.- pair of-keys -onthe extra joln't terminating in operating fingers' toengage the first and second cam ends respectively, and a shaft on theextra joint term'iha'ting atone endin an operating'finger to engage thethird-carnend and at its other'end in a ,cam to engage'the' ifirst "named operating 3. In a bass clarinet including a lowerbranch "havin'g'thereon a finger spatula terminating in a cam en'd adjacent to the lower end of thebranch and abellformed to fit on the'lower end of the branch and having a key thereon. terminatingin an operating finger to engagethejcam end .When the bell 1s fitted onthe branch," the improvement which comprises a first extra finger spatula on '=-spatula and termina'ting in a-second camc'nd adja'cen-t to the lower-end of the branch, a second extra spatula on-the" branch opposite to the first named spatuias to be operated by the player's thumb and terminating in a third cam end adjacent to the lower end of the branch, an extra joint to fit between the branch and the bell, a pair of keys on the extra joint terminating in operating fingers to engage the first and second cam ends respectively, and a shaft on the extra joint terminating at one end in an operating finger to engage the third cam end and at its other end in a cam to engage the first named operating finger.

4. In a bass clarinet including a lower branch having thereon a finger spatula terminating in a cam end adjacent to the lower end of the branch and a bell formed to fit on the lower end of the branch and having a key thereon terminating in an operating finger to engage the cam end when the bell is fitted on the branch, the improvement which comprises an extra finger spatula on the branch adjacent to the first named finger spatula and terminatingin a second cam end adjacent the lower end of the branch, an extra joint formed to fit between the bell and the branch, a key on the extra joint terminating in an operating finger to engage the first named cam end, and a shaft on the extra joint terminating at one end in an operating finger to engage the second cam end and at its other end in a cam to engage the first named operating finger.

5. In a bass clarinet including a lower branch having thereon a finger spatula terminating in a cam end adjacent to the lower end of the branch and a bell formed to fit on the lower end of the branch and having a key thereon terminating in an operating finger to engage the cam end when the bell is fitted on the branch, the improvement which comprises an extra spatula on the branch terminating in a seond cam end adjacent to the lower end of the branch, an extra joint formed to fit between the lower end of the branch and the bell, a key on the extra joint terminating in an operating finger to engage the first named cam end, a shaft on the extra joint terminating at one end in an operating finger to engage the second cam end and at its other end in a cam to engage the first named operating finger, and a latch mechanism to hold the branch and the extra joint together in proper angular alignment including a socket on the periphery oi one of them and a spring finger pivoted on the other of them and having its end shaped to fit into the socket.

HUGH W. LONEY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 110,845 Fritsche Jan. 10, 1871 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 17,975 Great Britain Aug. 20, 1899 2,188 Great Britain Jan. 31, 1899 139,844 France Nov. 2'7, 1880 244,901 Italy Jan. 30, 1926 

